Turkey Adventure Holiday

This active trip is a wonderful way to explore Turkey's beautiful coastline, charming villages and impressive mountains. From our base in the traditional harbour town of Kas we travel by bike, boat, canoe and sea kayak to explore the region's dramatic landscapes and rich culture. We'll get off the beaten track, visit ancient sites and enjoy relaxing swims in the clear blue waters of the Turquoise Coast.

Tour Highlights

Taurus Mountains - Cycle and walk in the foothills of these majestic mountains

Xanthos - Visit the ancient capital of Lycia then canoe down the Xanthos River to the sea

Kekova Bay - Sea kayak to the 'Sunken City' of Kekova and on to the village of Simena overlooked by a Medieval castle

Boat cruise - Swim and snorkel in the clear, warm waters that give the Turquoise Coast its name

Kas - Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and good restaurants of this pretty harbour town

Itinerary

1

Join the tour at Dalaman airport and transfer to Kas

We arrive at Dalaman airport and drive to our hotel in Kas, which is approximately two hours further south down the coast. There are two transfers arranged at set times for the first day of this tour. The main transfer to meet our preferred flight will be in the evening with an additional transfer in the mid-afternoon to assist with any early flight arrangements you may have in place.

Kas is one of the most beautiful ports on the Turkish Riviera with a dramatic backdrop of steep limestone cliffs. It's a great place to relax, with cafes and restaurants spilling out onto cobbled streets and a network of tiny back-alleys to explore. You'll have time over the coming days to enjoy the atmosphere of this vibrant town, both on land and at sea.

Our accommodation in Kas will be in one of two properties. Both are conveniently situated just a few minutes' walk uphill from the centre of Kas, with views down towards the harbour. The hotels are equipped with a swimming pool with sun loungers, a poolside bar, a restaurant with terrace and WiFi is available.

Overnight: Standard HotelSwimming Pool AvailableSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
None

2

Sea kayaking in Kekova Bay and visit to Simena Castle

This morning we'll make an early start so that we can enjoy sea kayaking in the tranquil and protected Bay of Kekova before any other boats or kayakers take to the water. It's one of the most scenic areas in Lycia; a set of picturesque islands, bays and small ancient cities. Here we also find the so-called Sunken City of Kekova, which is the result of various earthquakes that have partly submerged the streets and buildings, which are now visible in the crystal clear waters and there are even steps leading down into the depths of the bay.

Later we paddle to the picture-postcard village of Simena, whose harbour is dotted with ancient sarcophagi (tombs) and Roman baths and houses that cling to a hillside beneath a Medieval castle. Hiking up to the castle, we find within its walls a tiny ancient theatre (the smallest in Lycia, with a seating capacity for about 300 people). Carved from the solid rock, it is a wonderful place to sit and soak up the beautiful surroundings.

We will have the opportunity to have a tasty lunch of meze and grills at a waterside restaurant, before taking to the waters again, paddling through a labyrinth of rocks, passing the shoreline necropolis of Teimiusa to reach Ucagiz. From here we'll make the short transfer back to Kas by road.

Overnight: Standard HotelSwimming Pool AvailableSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

3

Trek in the beautiful West Taurus Mountains

Today we head inland by bus, to trek in the spectacular West Taurus Mountains. We drive for approximately an hour, passing scattered villages and farmsteads and paying a visit to a local tea house en route, before climbing even higher, progressively passing pine, oak, and finally ancient juniper and cedar forests. Our 12 km trek takes us from 1500m on forest tracks, until we rise above the tree line to enjoy our picnic lunch. We continue on to the summit of Mount Bozkaya (Grey Rock) which at 2050m high has commanding views. After a well-deserved rest at the summit, we descend via high pastures, perhaps meeting some nomadic shepherd families, to board our bus for the return journey to Kas. Our walk today will take approximately four to six hours to complete. Once back in Kas you may like to try out the local hamam (Turkish bath) to help unwind and relax after a busy day.

Overnight: Standard HotelSwimming Pool AvailableSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch

4

Visit Xanthos and canoe down Xanthos River to Patara Beach

Xanthos was the capital of ancient Lycia and at one time was the largest centre of commerce and religion in the region. It has had a turbulent past, falling to the Persians and then the Romans and on both occasions this sadly resulted in the mass suicide of the entire town's population.

In Byzantine times, the city walls were renovated and a monastery was added, but the city was finally deserted after Arab raids in the 8th century. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that we'll visit this morning, before the next of our activities.

After instruction and a safety briefing, we will take to the water again as we spend the next four hours canoeing down the Xanthos River to Patara Beach. Passing through the tranquil and unspoilt rural backwaters we make our way downstream. Those with keen eyes will see colourful kingfishers, egrets, grey and squacco herons and also terrapins on the riverbanks. We enjoy a riverside barbecue lunch, before we emerge at Patara Beach, where we will have time to relax and swim, before heading back to Kas. The 18 km of golden sand is one of the longest beaches in Turkey and a protected nesting area for giant loggerhead turtles. At its eastern extremity there's also the ancient city of Patara. Once the principal port of ancient Lycia, and birthplace of the 4th century bishop of Myra, Saint Nicholas - better known as Father Christmas.

Overnight: Standard HotelSwimming Pool AvailableSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch

5

Free day with the chance to visit the Greek island of Meis

Today is left free for you to relish in your own explorations. You may like to haggle in Kas's Friday market and buy local vegetables and white cheeses. Or for those of you with a hankering for culture, Kas is built around the remains of ancient Antiphellos and there are ruins of a Hellenistic theatre, the monumental Lion Tomb and some hillside rock tombs scattered in and around the town. For the adrenaline junkies there are a number of more active pursuits available and the sea around Kas is home to excellent diving locations that cater to all levels of expertise. Alternatively, you may take the opportunity to join an excursion to the Greek island of Meis. The island is just 2.5 km from the Turkish coast and yet more than 100 km from Rhodes, its nearest Greek neighbour.

Overnight: Standard HotelSwimming Pool AvailableSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

6

Cycling in the foothills of the Taurus Mountains

Transferring by bus, this morning we head into the local foothills, where we take to our mountain bikes to spend time exploring this picturesque region, both on and off-road. We'll cycle through cedar forests and sleepy villages that line our route through an area that has changed little for centuries. We will have the opportunity to rest at a local coffee shop and enjoy a picnic in the forest. Our route is primarily downhill, but there are some steep climbs for you to try. Our tour is vehicle-supported, so riders can decide on their own level of exertion, but we aim to do 20-30 km before we return to the bus for the transfer back to Kas, stopping en route for a swim at the famous cliff lined Kaputas Beach.

Overnight: Standard HotelSwimming Pool AvailableSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch

7

Relaxing boat trip of the bays around Kas

After a leisurely start this morning, we walk down to the harbour to board our private wooden boat. We take to the calm bays around Kas for a full day of swimming, eating and pure relaxation. Snorkels, fins and lunch will be provided. We'll return to Kas for our last evening, where we can recount all the fun we've had on our adventure packed week.

Overnight: Standard HotelSwimming Pool AvailableSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch

8

Transfer to Dalaman airport where the tour ends

This morning we transfer to Dalaman airport where the tour ends. There are two transfers arranged at set times for the last day of this tour, which will be in the late afternoon for our preferred flight or there will be an additional transfer in the mid-morning to assist with any earlier flight arrangements you may have in place.

Tour notes

Each departure date has it's own dedicated tour note, detailing all you need to know about that tour. Whether you've already booked, or weighing up your options, please choose carefully the relevant itinerary for you.

We have the following different versions of the Active Turkey! tour available at present.